By recognizing the achievements of our distinguished faculty in areas of professional achievement, service, and teaching, we celebrate the climate of excellence that we create together.
Millie Ablin Excellence in Teaching Award
The Millie Ablin Excellence in Teaching Award was established to recognize excellence in teaching. Each year, one distinguished faculty member at CSUB is honored for the contributions made to their students, to their academic disciplines, and to their campus communities.
Rebecca Larson, Professor of Mathematics
Becky is honored to have had her efforts in teaching recognized through being selected by the CSU Bakersfield campus as the Millie Ablin Excellence in Teaching Award recipient.
Quote: "Mathematics is not a spectator sport; to learn mathematics one must do mathematics." I enjoy doing mathematics with my students and sharing their excitement when they solve challenging problems. - Dr. Rebecca Larson, Professor of Mathematics
Faculty Leadership and Service Award
The Faculty Leadership and Service Award was established to recognize and encourage outstanding contributions to the principle and practice of shared governance and service to the community. Faculty leadership is critical to providing an educational experience of high quality and to the overall mission of CSUB.
David Gove, Professor of Mathematics
David Gove is honored to be the 2022-2023 Faculty Service Award winner.
Quote: "The more you do, the more you find that there is more that you can do." - Dr. David Gove, Professor of Mathematics
Faculty Scholarship and Creativity Award
The Faculty Scholarship and Creativity Award was established to recognize and encourage outstanding contributions to the principle and practice of research and creative activity. Faculty research and creative activity are critical to providing an educational experience of high quality and to the overall mission of CSUB.
Promising New Faculty Award
The Promising New Faculty Award was established to recognize exemplary achievements in teaching, research, scholarship, creative activities, and/or service among all full-time, tenure-track faculty.
Liaosha Song, Assistant Professor of Geology
Quote: "Driven by the pursuit of excellence, I find my passion for research in energy geosciences, while inspiring my students through dedicated teaching and mentorship." - Dr. Liaosha Song, Assistant Professor of Geology
Outstanding Lecturer Award
The Outstanding Lecturer Award honors a full-time lecturer for excellence in teaching effectiveness and service the CSUB campus community.
Mendy McMasters, Lecturer of Theatre
Quote: "There is no better way to understand what it means to be human than to be an actor and study the beauty and complexity of human nature from the inside." - Ms. Mendy McMasters, Lecturer of Theatre
Faculty Awards 2022-2023
Amy Ressler
Dr. Ressler hones her creativity skills by working with youth each summer in a major world-building immersive drama camp, where she portrays the role of Professor Bumblebone, headmistress of the Frogwarts School of Wizardry. The camp program is in its 20th year.
Inspirational Quote:
“Play touches and stimulates vitality, awakening the whole person - mind, body, intelligence and creativity.” - Viola Spolin
BreAnna Evans-Santiago
Dr. Evans-Santiago is an outstanding, service-oriented leader. She helped create and maintain residency programs, including the Black Educator Teacher Residency. She co-directs a $3.3M grant from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with CSU Chancellor’s office to transform education programs. Her book, Mistakes We Have Made, opened doors for her to collaborate with school districts and to co-coordinate the annual conference for the California chapter of the National Association of Multicultural Education at CSU Bakersfield in March 2022, where she and Delores Huerta were keynote speakers. Under her direction, the Department of Teacher Education will edit a special edition of Issues in Teacher Education. The Association of California School Administrators named her the 2022 Outstanding Professor of Education of the Year.
Inspirational Quote:
"Each day is a gift to continue to make change; One small action step could leave a sustainable impact." - BreAnna Evans-Santiago
Richard Gearhart
Inspirational Quote:
"Research expands the breadth and depth of human knowledge and is foremost a way to reduce inequities and create a better society." - Richard Gearhart
Aubrey Kemp
Dr. Aubrey Kemp looks for ways that her work can be leveraged to benefit her students and the community, and how we, as educators, can actively be anti-racist and more equitable. Dr. Kemp earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics and Statistics at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia in 2018. Her research is in Collegiate Mathematics Education, and her teaching philosophy is largely informed by this research. She has co-authored a chapter about LGBTQIA+ identity in Count Me In: Community and Belonging in Mathematics, has published peer-reviewed proceedings and journal articles, and recently hiked to the summit of Mount Whitney.
Dr. Kemp is proud to receive the Promising New Faculty Award and honored that her efforts since joining CSUB are appreciated.
Inspirational Quote:
"Empower our students. Especially in mathematics classrooms, students deserve to hear
and believe they are creative, their perspectives are valued, and they are worthy."
- Aubrey Kemp
Jennifer Burger
“I tell students, ‘I’m your coach. I can train you. I can give advice from the sidelines. But I can’t get out there on the field with you. That part is up to you,’” she says.
Since she started teaching in 2013, Burger has led journalism students to win dozens of awards and attend conferences on both coasts. Alumni work in all facets of news media as well as go on to become teachers themselves. Burger is highly praised by students for both her passion for journalism and compassion for them. She is grateful for being recognized with the Outstanding Lecturer Award for 2022-23.
Inspirational Quote:
"Journalism is constantly evolving. Teaching it requires balancing innovative storytelling techniques with dedication to the ethical foundations of the press." - Jennifer Burger
Faculty Awards 2021-2022
Dr. Rebecca Weller, Associate Professor of Art History
In 2020, Dr. Weller became the Director of the Faculty Teaching & Learning Center at CSUB where she would redirect that pedagogical passion into assisting her colleagues with the rapid transition to distanced instruction. After such a challenging year, Rebecca is thrilled to receive the Millie Ablin Excellence in Teaching Award.
Quote: "Good teaching cannot be reduced to technique. Good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher." - Parker Palmer
Dr. Anna Jacobsen, Professor of Biology
Quote: “Through my leadership and service, I strive to equip and inspire students to be the next generation of scientific professionals, to support my colleagues, and improve our community."
Dr. Jesse Bergkamp, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Quote: “My undergraduate science professors changed my perspective of the world around me, my career path, and my attitude of learning. I strive to do the same for my students.”
Ms. Kelly O'Bannon, Lecturer of Communications
In addition to her work at CSUB, she provides community outreach to local high schools and organizations in their efforts to create effective public speakers through various trainings, workshops, and presentations. Kelly O’Bannon’s passion, dedication, and effort are recognized as she receives the Outstanding Lecturer Award for 2020-2021.
Quote: “I respect and cherish the uniqueness we all bring as communicators. I work to share my passion with students in hopes that they can move throughout their lives as confident and dynamic speakers.”